Flush-valve-operating mechanism



H. D. cLEMMoNs 1,771,247l

FLUSH VALVE OPEATING MECHANISM y Filed Jan. 26. 1.928y 2 Sheets-Sheet l July 22, 1930.

July 22, 1930. H. D. cLEMMoNs FLUSH VALVE OPERATING MECHANISM 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed' Jan. 25.1928

aumento; jererl 67677272202@ Patented July 22,l 1930 l ,UNITED STATES PATENT oI-Fica aannam D. cLEmxoNs, or sTUneIs, niemeer', AssIGNon. 'ro soovnm v:luminari- TURING commun, or wa'rnnnumr, coNnEc'rIcUr, A conrona'rron or CONNECT- ICUT FLUSH-'VALVE-OPERATING IECHANISH Application mea January ze, ma. semi 1ro. 249,551'

This invention relates to a mechanism for operating the discharge valves of lush'tanks for closet bowls and other similar apparatus. It relates more particularl to that type of flush valve operating mec anismv in which purpose.

between them, and also to e lals the movement vof the valve is effected by swinging a lever associated with the walls of a supply tank. I am aware that heretofore various devices have been employed for this In the structure made in accordance with my invention, however, the operating parts are reduced to a minimum number and are so formed and connected as to substantially eliminate the friction between the moving parts, to directly connect the operating parts thereby obviating any lost motion loy a stop construction which relieves an llflteral strain on the hanger member there y obviating any tendency of the parts to work loose because of a cramping action in the operation thereof. The device made in accordance with my present invention is, therefore, one of such simplicity that the parts may be readily connected and applied to any style of tank or shell for their intended urposes, as will be hereinafter more articu arly described.

In the drawing igure 1 is a plan illustrating the use of a flush tank operating mecha'- nism made in accordance with my invention,

Figure 2 is a sectional'elevation illustrating'the same,

Figure 3 is an enlar ed elevation looking at the mechanism rom the innersidel thereof,

Figure 4 is a partial section online 4.-4,

'Fi re 3, and

igure 5-is a view similar to Figure 4 showing another form of the invention.

In the drawin 10 represents the wall of a Hush tank or ot er similar apparatus. In a suitable position in the wall 10 there is a hole 11. The apparatus comprising the improved flush tank lever mechanism, as illustrated, is constructed to include a sleeve 12 having a head 13 at one end thereof and also having the major ortion of its exterior screw threaded as in icated at 14.l The outer diameter of the sleeve 12 is appreciably less than the distance between the oppositely disposed faces denin the hole 11 which is preferably square, a though it may 'be of any lother configuration. Fitted to the screw ortion of the sleeve there is al threaded head 15 o a hanger bracket. This head 15 is preferably anged, as indicated at 16 and 17. The ange 16 is a lateral flange adapted to bear at its face a ainst the inner surface of the wall 10, and t e flange 17 is a projecting flange preferably square in outline so as to t in the square opening 11. It will be understood, however, that the configuration of the flange 16 is made to conform to that of the opening 11 fitting over the sleeve 12 and adapted to lie against-the outer face ofthe wal 10 is an escutcheon 18. The opening in this escutcheon isof substantially the same diameter as that of the sleeve 12, and the sleeve 12 is adapted to be turned to 'osition in a tapped opening in the bracket ead 15 in such a manner that the head 13 of thev sleeve contacts with the escutcheon and thereby retains the bracket head in position against the inner face of the wall.

The sleeve 12 is preferably tubular and passing through the same is ,a spindle 19. At its outer end this spindle or stem 19 is connected to a handle 20. This connection may be made in any desired manner and the handle may be made of porcelain, metal, wood, or any other suitable material. As illustrated, the handle is provided with a shoulder 21 adapted to bear against the outer face of the head 13 of the sleeve. This head, as illustrated, is hexagonal in order that it may be employed as a nut in turning the sleeve to position in the bracket head 15. The spindle or stem 19 is preferably square in cross section in order, as will be understood, to minimize the contacting surface between the same and the bore of the'tubular sleeve. Fitted on thespindle 19 there is a collar 22. When in position the inner end -of the collar abuts against the outer end of the sleeve and is maintained in this position by the use of f gilded with a crank 23-in which there is an eye dicated at 27 and thel short arm at 28. vThis lever is pivotally connected to the outer end of the bracket 26, as indicated at 29. In the short arm of the lever there is an eye 30. The short arm of the b`ell crank lever is connected to the crank 23 by a link 31. One end of this link passes through the e e -28 of the short arm of the lever and the ot er end through the eye of the lever. On the inner face of the bracket 26 there is a rib 32 so formed as to bear against the inner face of the tank to assist in maintaining the bracket in place, and on the outer face of the bracket 26 there is a lug 33 adapted to function as a stop and to coact with a lug 34 on the adjacent face of the short arm 28 of the bell crank lever adapted to strike the lug 33 whereby these lugs act as stops to determine and limit the extent of the swinging movement of the lever.

In the form of the invention, as illustrated in Figure 5 the construction is similar to that hereinbefore described with the exception vthat the head 35 of the sleeve is made to bear against the outer face of awasher 36 placed against the outer face of the wall of the tank and with the further' exception that the handle 37 i's provided with an escutcheon 38 preferably made integral therewith and recessed to receive the head 35 and the washer 36 whereby the face of the escutcheon bears against the outer face of the tank instead of the flange 21 of the handle bearing against the outer face of' the head of the sleeve as in the other form of the invention.

The outer end of the long arm 27 of the bell crank lever is rovided with aseries of eyes and this end o the lever is connected by a rod 39 with a valve 40 normally bearing against a seat 41 provided therefor at the upper end of a supply pipe 42 discharging from the tank to a closet or other fixture. As illustrated and also as is more or less customary, the rod 39 passes through a guide 43 carriedby an overflow pipe 44 which, as will be understood connects with the pipe 42.

In the use of the apparatus theparts normally assume the positions shown in Figures 1 and 2 of the drawing. In this position the long arm of the bell crank lever is substan tially horizontal and the short arm of this lever is substantially vertical. Furthermore, normally the crank carried by the collar also lies in a substantially horizontal position while the handle normally assumes a vertical position. It will now be apparent that by turning the handle a partial revolution in either direction the bell crank lever will be swung suiciently far to bring the stop 34 on the short arm of the lever against the stop 33 on the hanger bracket 26 whereby the extent of the movement of the handle is controlled, as is also the lift of the lever which latter in. anyI instance must be suilicient to lift or raise the valve 40 from its seat 41. Furthermore', the simplicit of the construction as well as the ease wit which it may be secured in position for use and with which it may be removed for repairs or otherwise will now be readily appreciated.

Still furthermore in the operation of the apparatus the liftin of the valve is not only positively effected y the operation of the handle and the parts connectingthe same to the bell crank lever for this urpose but upon the' release of the handle t e same is automatically returned and maintained to and in its initial position by the reseating of the valve and the consequent return to its normal position of the lever which through the link collar and spindle causes the return of the handle to its normal position and the maintenance of the same therein.

I claim as my invention:

1. In afiush tank operating mechanism1 a tubular member adapted to be passed into an opening provided therefor in the wall of a tank, means for limiting the extent to which the said tubular member may be passed into the opening inthe wall of the tank, a support member connected to said tubular member to maintain the same in posltion in the opening in the wall of the tank, a stem passing throu h the said tubular member, a handle to whic the stem is connected, an operating member mounted onthe said stem, a lever ivotally connected to the said support mem er, means for connecting the said lever and operating member, a lug on the said support member transversely disposed to the longitudinal axis thereof, and ak lug on the said lever adapted to contact with the lug on the support member along a line aty substantially right angles to the longitudinal axis of the support member for limiting the movement of the parts without exerting any material torsional strain on the said support member.

2. In a flush tank operating mechanism, a sleeve ada ted to pass into an opening provided there orin the wall of the tank, a head at one end of the sleeve for determining the extent to which the sleeve may pass into the opening in the wall of the tank, a hanger bracket having at one end thereof a head in which there is a tapped'opening to receive a screw threaded portion Vof the said sleeve, the head of the hanger bracket having a flange adapted to extend into the said opening of the wall of the tank whereby the sleeve is secured in place in the wall of the tank and the hanger bracket maintained in position relatively thereto, a stem passing through the said sleeve, a handle to which the stem is connected, a collar mounted on the inner end of the said stem, a. crank carried by the collar, a bell crank lever having long and short arms and being pivotally connected to the said hanger bracket, a link for connecting the short arm of the bell crank lever with tthe said crank, a lug on the said hanger bracket transverselydlsposed to the lon itudinal axis thereof, and a lug on the sai lever adapted to contact with the lug on the han er bracket alon a line at substantially rlght an les to t e longitudinal l axis of the hanger racket for limiting the movement of theparts without exerting any material torsional strain on thesaid hanger bracket. w

Signed by me this 14th day of January,

1928. HERBERT D. CLEMMONS. 

